News

Rhode Island town lets residents pay taxes online

August 3, 2003

CUMBERLAND, R.I. -- Town officials are trying to make paying taxes a little more convenient by letting residents pay online. This fiscal year the town will add a computer kiosk inside town hall for people who do not have computer access.

Finance Director Tom Bruce said the town is the first in Rhode Island that offers residents the option to pay their taxes online through an official Web site.

According to a report in Pawtucket Times, taxpayers can log on and pay their property and vehicle taxes. Residents can use their credit card or an electronic check to make their payment, according to Bruce.

"The strategy is that by increasing payment methods to the taxpayer, the collection performance is also improved. It's also about increasing convenience, since a lot of people now pay all their bills online," Bruce said.

Paying for the convenience will cost an added expense of $4.50. Bruce said he's hoping next year that might change and the expense to pay online could be absorbed into the fiscal budget, the report said.

So far, only about 6 percent of taxpayers have taken advantage of the online payment service, the report said.